The South Suburban Mayors and Managers Association’s Executive Board has recently named Kristi DeLaurentiis of Lansing as the organization’s next executive director. She replaces longtime Executive Director Ed Paesel who retires at the end of the year. He served for more than 17 years and helped form the association back in 1978. Kristi will be only the third individual to serve in this role in SSMMA’s 38 years of existence. Ms. DeLaurentiis brings a strong commitment to the region with extensive government relations, community development and planning experience. She is the president of KDL Consulting, Inc., a policy guidance, technical assistance and government consulting firm. Previously, she was the director of government affairs and community development for Metro Strategies, Inc. and the Metropolitan Planning Council’s government relations director. Kristi also was the director of planning and development for the Village of Lansing, an SSMMA member community. Ms. DeLaurentiis has been responsible for planning, policy, and legislative advocacy in the areas of transportation, economic development, community revitalization, housing and the environment and has a long record of state and region-wide efforts benefitting the Southland. Kristi has served on the Governors State University Board of Trustees, the Illinois Nature Preserve Commission, the Illinois’ Digital Divide Elimination Advisory Committee and the American Cancer Society Illinois Division and Cancer Action Network boards. She currently is a member of the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning’s (CMAP) Land Use Committee and chairs the American Cancer Society’s Lakeshore Division. A life-long south suburban resident, Ms. DeLaurentiis holds a Bachelor’s degree and a Master of Science degree from Governors State University. “On behalf of the Executive Committee, I want to congratulate Kristi DeLaurentiis on being selected as the association’s third executive director,” said SSMMA President and Park Forest Mayor John Ostenburg. “She was selected after a lengthy process that involved review of the credentials of approximately 150 candidates. We have every confidence that, as executive director, she will follow in the excellent traditions established by Ed Paesel and Beth Ruyle before him. Kristi’s long experience in quasi-governmental roles, and her familiarity with the association and its member communities places her in good stead for a fruitful tenure in the years ahead.” “I am very pleased by the trust and confidence placed in me by the SSMMA’s Executive Committee,” said Ms. DeLaurentiis. “I look forward to working with each and every community as we collectively improve and expand the quality of life and economic competitiveness of the south suburbs.” The South Suburban Mayors and Managers Association is a council of governments (COG) providing geographic information system (GIS) and other technical assistance and joint services to 45 municipalities representing a population of over 650,000 in Cook and Will Counties. SSMMA members work cooperatively on transportation, legislation, housing and community development, land use, economic development, recycling, purchasing, storm water and open space planning, infrastructure, human resources and public safety.
- SSMMA